Starter for internal-combustion engines.



' B. VOLKMAR.

STARTER FOR INTERNAL GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, 1910.

Patented Sept. 3, 1912.

M. n/W.. A

ecl

UNITED sTATE's APATENT oEFIcE.

BERNHARD voLirMAn, or NEW YORK, N. Y., AssINoE To 'VLKMAEAUTO STARTER CQMPANY, A CORPORATION oF-NEW YORK. I'

STARTER Fon INTERNA12-colinaUs'rronL ENGINES.

specieation if Leners-raient. y Application mea June 17, 1910. serial No. gemas.

f Patented Sept. v1912.

ternal combustion engines, and more par? ticularly to a type thereofadapted to. turn the engine over to insure the tiring of the initial charge, and be re-set by the Subscquent opera-tion of the engine.

One object of my invent-ion is to provide a spring actuated starting device embodying feviv parts of simple design, wherein the driving member, when released, Will, under. the control of its spring, turn the engine overa sufficient number of times to insure the compression and ignition of a charge, and 'thereafter be automatically locked to permit' the rewinding of the spring, t-he engine shaft, .while being normally..und`er .the .control of said driving member in starting, being 'free to rotate independently thereof.

A further object is to -provide a spring 'actuated starting device wherein the spring drum will be normally locked to absorb the react-ion of the spring While being capable "of rotation under the control of the engine, to rewind the spring.

. still further ob]ect is to provide a starting ydevice whereinv the rewindng of the spring will be accomplished by-a minimum application of thex engine power, to reduce the load upon the engine when starting, and

thus avoid liability of such an overload on the engine as would tend to cause it to stop after the actuation of `the starter, j while initiating the rewinding of the spring at substantially 'the instant when the 'driving 1igiember.ceases to act upon the driven memer. A still further object is toprovide a starting devicewlereinthe mode of a plication 59 offengine powerin rewinding wi l be such yas to avoids constant' load upbn the en-y une L L 'l l i further object is to p'rovlde a startjdevice wherein thatypo'rtion `of the rewinding mechanism in operative relation -ito theengine shaft or driven member, will have a Aconstant operation, while theni'e'ans actuated therebyfor' rewinding the spring `will be automatically .disconnected from said portion when the'spring is 'rewound to the desired extent, to relieve the said spring fromvexcessive .st-rains.`

A still furtherobject is to ,provide astarting device, whereinthe extent to which the spgipg is' rewound will be automatically' determined by the number 'ofrevolutions -of the driving member upon the actuation of the starter. v

still further object is to provide a start--` ing device wherein the driving member willV be held against any reversal of its direction of rotation under a kick-back from the engine. l

A still further object is to provide in ls tarting device of this character a manually operative starting crank to enablefthe user to start the device by hand if the engine dees not respond to the 'mechanical starter,

the construction of the starter .being such` tripping device as would prematurely lock i said drivin member.-

'A still rtherobject is to provide astarterwherein the power of the spring-will be applied-te the engine shaft, 'or other driven-'membeig' andthe spring will be rewound from the engine shaft, or other driven' member, wit-hout employing gears or other toothed mechanisms thus eliminating all possibility .of the starter being gotten out of order by a too sudden application of power in either direction. i

A still furtherobjectisA to provide "a"V starter wherein the various parts will be instantly and automatically released or locked as required at any stage of the opera. tion of the starter.

A still further object is to provide a starter which will beso constructed as to cause all of the holding orr feeding parts to have a minimum quantity of Wear through the repeated operations` of the de- Y,

vice, and to automatically"readjust themselves to compensate for wear without a loss of eiiiciency.

A still further object is to provide a starter which may be released or tripped from t-he drivers seat without any substantial effort on the part of the driver,4 and which when released, will turn the engine over a sutlicient number of times to insure the initial startingthereof and thereafter' the resetting within a sufliciently short period (say from one half to one minute), to permit the reapplication of the power at any reasonable time thereafter. I .A still further object is to provide a starter offthis character, wherein the spring power may be increased if desired,kby the addition of further spring elements without` Substantial alteration in the mechanisms of the starter.

A still further Objectis to provide a device wlierein the number of rotations-of the driving member, upon the release thereof,l

may be varied at the will vof the opera-tor to adapt the starter to different horse power machines and conserve spring energy.

Astill further object is to provide a starter Vwhich will be capable of actuation without 'material noise from movingv parts. -And a still further object is to provide a starter vwhich 'may be inexpensively produced, and

will eifectively apply to' lthe engine the power necessary to turn the engine over a -sufficient number'of times to insure the comi member, means whereby said lockingmeans may be released, and arewinding mechanism operative from said driven member;

and in such other novel features of constructioii and combination of parts as are hereinafter set forth and described and more particularly pointed out in the drawings here- ,to appended. I

Referring `to the drawingsz-Figure l `is a vertical section through a starter embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a view on line 2 2 of `Fig. l; Fig. is a detailed view of one f the friction ratchets, and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the star wheel and tripping mechanism.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views. A

In the embodiment of my invention, shownin the drawingsgm indicates a plate vdrum c preferably provided adjacent to one edge thereof with a bearing c engaging the casing b. The drum c is provided with a cover 02. Centrally of the drum c is a driving member d preferably in the form of ahollow arbor', the springs e being mounted in said drum with the opposite ends thereof secured respectively to the arbor d and drum.

c, Any desired number of springs e may be used, according to the horse power of the engine i". connection with which the starter is to be used, a partiti n e separat-ing .these Springs when a plurai ty of such-are used, and such multiplicatioi of springs requiring merely an increase in the dimensions of the 4casing,'drum and arbor. -By this construction of spring drum, the springs may be readily assembled in the drum, and may be as readily removed in case of breakage to permit the substitution of new springs. One

end of the arbor d is journaled in the drum.

o, and casing Z), and the other end thereof is stepped as'at CZ and bears in an opening in the drum 0. Mounted in the plate a and arbor dis the driven member f which is 'adapted to form a part of, or be coupledto,

the engine shaft so as to transmit the rotary movement ofthe arbor fl to the said shaft. Preferably. to compensate for loss of aline` ment inA the engine shaft and the driven member f. owing to the manner oi attachment of the starter to a car. I vpreferably connect the member f to the engine shaft by means of a ,universal coupling indicated at f', 'fthe engine shaft proper being indicated at 2.

To secure the rotation of the driving niember or arbor d by the spring e, it is necessary to provide the drum c with a resistance means suiiicient to absorb the re-action of said spring or springs, such'means, however,

being necessarily i so constructed and arranged as to permit `the free rotation of said drum to accomplish the rew-incling of .centric with the driving member or arbor d. Mounted upon this rim is a friction pawl i consistingvof a .metal block having therein. a channel of'a width approximating the thickness of said rim g. Carried by the plate a is a fixed stop h against which the lower portion of the said friction pawl la bears when in the locked position, a spr-ing acting to normally set said pawl in the lockingposition. It will be observed by this construction that when force -is applied to the drum in a direction through the pawl 71, toward the sto it or toward the spring,`

the said force wil so llock said 'pawl upon said rim as to oli'er a resistanceproportionate to the force applied, and thus, under no circumstances, permitting the drumwto rotate in that direction... It, however, theforce be applied in the opposite direction, it will carry thp pawl away from the stop, tensioning the spring h2, and permit the drum to rotatey freely in the' opposite direction, the spring k2 when the rotary movement of said drum ceases, instantly restoring the pawl to its former, set position. Y

' The arbor or driving member d within the rim g is provided `with a similar brake rim i but of lesser diameter coperating with which is a similar friction pawl j pivotally secured to the driven member f at the lower end thereof, the spring normally setting said pawl, being attached to, and movable with, said driven member. The pivotal connection between the pawl j and the member j will ordinarily merely consist in the beveling of the lower edge of the pawl y', and the seating of this beveled end in a `recess having oppositely disposed inclined walls of a pitch sufiicient to permit that slight .dit

*from the brake rim z'.

lance equaling the force eXerte oscillation of the pawl y' necessary to permit the engagement and disengagement thereof It will be observed that by this construction, force applied upon the pawl jte-ward the sprin y" will set the `pawl relative to the -rim z' o erin a resistbythe spring, and thus cause the rotar y movement of the driving member or ar ord to impart a similar movement to the driven member f, the movement of the said member j at a speedl greater than that of the arbor d serving to release the pawl y' and carry this pawl about the brake' rim t' with? out any braking action occurring between these two members. however, that the instant when the speed 'of the arbor d exceeds that of the engine shaft, or the driven member f, the parts e' j willA set irrespective of the position of these parts,'and that when the pawl j is running idly, or is locked upon the brake rim i, the

action of the spring j will be such as toA avoid any substantial wear upon either of these parts.

The pawls, or other. friction clutch mem.- bers h and y' with their coperating members gvand take care of the action and reaction of the spring or the springs e, it being nnly necessary to vprovide means for con. trolling the operative moment or. release of fl carried by 'the It will be observed,`

the driving member and means re-setting the starter through the rewinding of the drum, such means constituting a reversal of the functions of the above mentioned clutch members. ,Y 1-

To hold the driving member or arbor d for-theL-purpose of controlling' ythe moment v of actuation of the starter, aswell as to per- Init the lrewinding of the spring or springs gg, .I- provide said arbor with a brake rim k cencentric with the rimsl g 'z' positioned fm therebetween, having acting thereon a fric, tion pawl Z normally seatedfagainst the stop plate a, by the spring Z2 to normally set arbor Z through' the resist-ance offered to the springse 1n their effort to rotate'the driven member j. It will be observed that when force is applied to said pawl so' as to drive it againstthe stoplg, the. said pawl will prevent any rotation-of the arbor d and that when this pawl is 'drawn away from.

said stop and against the tension of said operating brake rim, the holding means for' d pawl so -as tolock thev the said driving member' or arbor the driving member, the releasing means i for said pawl consisting of a `flexible connection or pull m, extending to a bellhcrankl lever or any other desired mechanismlocated adjacent to the drivers seat; It will be observed by this construction that tnepower required tostart the deviceA will be merely that necessary toovercome the `nox'- mal friction between the pawl Z and its brake rim Z1, and the, tension of the spring l2, thus requiring but a slight ,exertion to trip the starter; and that immediately upon the release of the pull m the spring Z2 will tend to immediately restore the pawl to its ,set position and lock the driving-member.

Having described the mechanism for ap- .lyingthespring power to the driving 'meliil r and the means controlling` the moment of 'application lezt saidpowenl will now proceed to the description of the mechanism for rewinding theisprng after the actuation of the device. yIn the 'connection in which'a device of. this character is used it is essential .that a sprmgmotor for the starter -be re-l wound from the eng-ine in connection with which it is used. Underinormal conditions.

this lrevvinding means mustbe inoperativeb andit must be so actuated as to immediately rewind the spring when the engine has been once started. Furthermore, such means must be so controlled as not to exhaust .any i of the spring energy whenY starting the enf` gine, and not to place so great a load upon the engine, during thewinding operation, as

'might result in kthe engine stopping after the spring energy had been exhausted and hefore the spring had been revvound. In thel i invention, as shown in the drawings,`this i-ewinding mechanism is shown as consisting of a reciprocatory friction pawl a, constructed like the pawl z, and adapted t-o engage the brake rim g, the said pawl being set and caused to bear against the stopn, by inea-ns of the spring n2. Acting against the pawl n is an oscillatory leveno actuated bythe eccentric p upon the driven member,

said lever o being provided with an antifriction roller o engaging, said eccentric or cam. By'this construction thespring normally draws the pawl n toward the stopl n to set the pawl in 'vthe locked position upon the rim (7, t-he oscillating ,lever 0 forcing the entire pawl forwardly, carrying with it the entire drum c (which carries the rim g)"thus serving to rewind the spring from thedri'ven member.

addition to olfeiing the resistance absorbing The pawl 71. in

the reaction of the spring when the starter is actuated, acts asa holding pawl to take l force'applied during a continuing interval tol accomplish the entire rewinding of the spring. This alone would relieve the engine of a considerable load in start-ing, as the rewinding mechanism could .be so designed as to require from to eight hundred engine revolutions, or even more, to accomplish the rewinding of the spring. IBut I prefer to supplement the conservation of energy in rewindin'g by gearing down by. an intermittentmovement such as -is secured by the eccentric p, thus not only reducing tie act-ual load'at' all times during the re- -.vinding interval, but eliminating the load altogether during a 'substantial proportion of each revolution of the engine. terval during which the engine is under no load from the rewinding mechanism may be governed entirely by the contour of the` eccentric p, although I prefer to use a disk eccentric, as shown in the drawings, for

securing a gradual feeding movement, and an interval of rest, equaling that of the interval of feeding, with each revolution.

The mechanism described would act continuously while the engine is running were not means provided for making said rewinding .mechanism inoperative when the spring has 'been properly wound or tensioned. This v,means preferably consists of the bell crank lever g one arm of which is l' adapted to be projected into the path of the pawl n to act as a stop to hold this pavvl out of the operative range of the lever o, the

yother arm thereof being adapted to be en! gaged by a tappet r carried by a star WheelA s the teeth of which project adjacent to the rims g and k, which rims carry tap-pets g k The intappet gf e with a spring which normally ,presses it into a position'where it will engage the said star wheel and at the same time"- permit itv to recede out of the path of the v'star wheel under such a condition.- It will be observed that by the construction above described, not only will the i'ewinding mechanism be thrown out of opera-tion by the tappet 71, but that the moment of such operation will be controlled by the number of rotations of the "star wheel under thetappet g,' and the normal positionv of the tappet 7j will'be governed by the number of rotations of the star wheel by the vtappeti# when the arbor Z is rotated by the springs in startingthe engine. Hence, assuming that when the spring is at zero, the

shown in the drawings, the rewinding drinn Will be turned six-times before the holding its adaptation to engines of varying H. P.

For example, assuming that-the two springs shown in the drawings 4will develop, when Wound by six revolutions ofthe drum, suiii- -cient power to start a 30 H. P.- en'gine, the

starter maybe adapted toa 10 H. P.. engine by Winding the springs by three revolutions of the drum, or to a 20 HjP. by winding it four or tive revolutions as desired, to insure a sufficient safety factor. 'This adjustment means consists of a pin 7" carriedby the tappet r and adapted to seat vin any of av whereby the said tappet may be drawn forwardly sufficiently to disengage the st-ud r2 from its socket 5*"rotated to the desired extent and reset in its adjusted position. lny

other desired means of adjusting the tappet rvmay be employed, however; or if desired, no means of adjustment may be provided, although I prefery to embody such in starters for general use, as distinguished from starters made for a particular type -or style of machine. l I

In automobile appliances, it i's desirable to provide safety factors which will prevent a. disarrangement of parts, or loss of efficiency tappet r is set in that extremeposition .series of sockets s in the star wheel 8,.said 'tappet being provided with means 'exposed 'externallyof the plate a, as the handle r2 1l5 by careless or unskilled operators. In vstartthe engine, under normal conditions the driver would hold the pull m forwardly a suiiicient period to in surethe starting-of the engine, or an exhaustion of the spring in the efor't to do so. Others, however, might merely consider the pull m as a trip mecha-- nism and give only one jerk tothe pull member m, and thus upon the release of said member, 'accomplish the restoring of the holding pawl l before the spring has had an` opportunity to turn the engine over a determined by the location of the ta pet r.

The tappet s2 hasa fixed relation to t ie star wheel s the interval at which the pawl l willbe reset, being constant.

` In gas engine practice, many conditions arise in which an engine fails to start even when properl turned over, such as the failure of a spar or an improper mixture; so that it is desirable to provide manually A operative means whereby lthe engine may be started in case the spring motor of the starter fails to accomplish this result. Such a means is afforded `in my starter by the hand crank t having the impact. coupling tf adapted to engage a c operating impact coupling t2 on lthe driven member, the spring t3 actin to normally disengage these coupling mem ers.' The arbor d is made hollow to accommodate these coupling members and this spring.

In starting cranks there'is the ever present danger of a kick-back from the engine i due to a premature tiring of the charge or excessive compression before ignition and to eliminate this diiiculty, I provide as a Safety factor the pawl u which is normally seated in the locking lposition against the stud u by-the spring u-said pawl acting upon the brake rim 7.a. This pawlbeing normally set in the locking position offers a resistance to the return movement of the driving member or arbor d equaling the force applied thereto, thus permitting the free rotation of said member in one direction while at all times preventing its return movement. The kick-back from the engine would tend to impart a reversal in the direction of rotation of the member f, throughl said memberbeing normally coupled to the driving member d, except when running at a higher speed than said member in the forward-direction, but such rotati'on v operation of the various pawls, in the combination, it 1s necessary to clearly understand themode of operation of' this pawl which is not obvious.- Any such pawls haviii-g a lrecess therein passing over a brake 4rim, which approximates in width the width 'of said rim allowin for the curvature thereof, will withthe slight tilting of the pawl, cause the forward lower edge of the recess and the rear upper edge thereof to clamp upon the'rim. This tilting of the pawl is accomplished by placinor a stop toward the bottom thereof and applying a light spring to the pawl above this stop. It will thus be observed that the pawl is normally tilted in one direction holding it normally in the set position. If force be applied toward the pawl so that-this force will be directed.

against the stop, the member .through which the force is applied will be absolutely checked by the resistance ofthe stop, through the pawl. If, however, force be applied tothe pawl'in the opposite direction, it will move the pawl vaway' from its stop, tensioning the spring slightly, andthe member through which' the forcec isapplied encountering no resistance will ,rotate freely, the spring always pulling the pawl back toward its normal position. In other words, under the conditions flast above named, the member through which the force is applied, as a brake rim, vWill slide freely through the recess in 'the pawl unseatmg 'said' pawl through the force applied thereby. Reversingv the conditions, as in the case of the paw-l j,y said awl if connected to a movable member instead of a .xed resistance, the force applied thereto in the direction toward the spring holding it in the set position will apply the force exerted to the movable member. If, however, this movable member is itself traveling at a vgreater rate of speed than the member applying force, it turns with the. application ofthe force and the abutment against which the pawl will overcome the tilting action of the spring, thus releasing the pawl and causing Vit to travel freely upon ,the member tending to apply/the force. The third position arising in con ection withthese-pawls, is that found in t e pawl A pawl having been -set by means of its spring 'and the fixed brake rim in the direction toward the springnormally setting the same, the pawl will be locked relative to its brake -.rim and said 20 hold the arbor or driving member d stationbrake rim and the member controlled thereV` by will be held against movement; orif said pawl be carried by a movable member said member will be moved. Inversely, however, if the pawl itself be movable, power applied thereto from the same side thereof as its spring, will transmit the force to its brake rim. y

The operation of the herein described starting device is substantially as follows, assuming the springs to be at zero. Under this condition, it would be necessary to start the engine manually.` The driver would rs't force the handle t inwardly until the couplings t engage 'the couplings 252 on the driven member. By turning the crank in the usual manner, 'theV driven member f would be turned to theright, Fig. 1, and to the, left, Fig. 2 to turn the engine over. The pawl Z under .such conditions would ary, lthe pa-wl j running idly upon its rim i with the rotation of the member j. In case the engine should fire prematurely or kickback =from any other vreasons whatsoever, the pawl u would prevent any movement of the driving member Z under this force, notwithstanding .the fact that 4the member ,f

would be coupled to the said driving member d by the pawl j engaging the rim i.

IHence, the ent-ire force of the reaction from the engine would be absorbedby they said pawl and the said driving. member preventing any "kick-back?v whatever. upon .the hand crank t. If the charge, however, should be ignited properly, the driven member f will rotate entirely independently of the driving member d, the pawl or clutch member j running idly upon its rim c'. The engine thus running free so far as the starter is concerned, it would immediately begin to wind the springs e in the following manner-: The eccentric p will impart one direct and return oscillatiomto the lever 0 Wit each revolution of the engine, and wou d impart a partial revolution to the drum c. through the pawl n in the manner above described. With each rotation of the drum c the tappet g carried by thel rim g out of the operative range of the various pawls' would engage the star wheel s and turn itby successive stages with successive revolutions of said drum until the tappet r carried thereby engages the bell crank lever g and force the holdingor locking arm thereof inwardly until vit holds the said pawl 'n against return movement,thus permitting the subsequent oscillations of the lever o' spring having been completely rewound, the starter. is then in condition to be used to mechanically start the' engine from the drivers seat. As the springs are being rewound the pawl h upon the rim g holds the saiddrum against return movement under its springs, the'pawl Z upon the rim kv of the driving member preventing the rotation ofsaid 4member under said springs during this operation and until it is desired to start the engine. l

Assuming that a stop is made, andthe engine shut down, to startith'e engine it is merely necessary for the driver to actnate' the pull `m which willrelease,l or trip the holding pawl Z, thus permitting vthe springs to rotate ,the driving member or arbor d.

This arbor being normally locked by the pawl y', tothe driven member f, the rotation thereof will turn the engine over the desired number of times as determined by the position of the tappet 1' relative to its star wheel.l

vIfthe charge should be ignited when theA engine has been turned 'over once, the driven member f would run free, relative to the driving member din the same manner as described in connection with the starting of the engine when hand cranked. The pawl Ai, when the tripping or holding member Z` is released, absorbs al1 of the reaction of the spring. s

As the driving member d is rotated -under its spring, the tappet Ic carried thereby, reverses the direction of rotation of the star wheel s, permitting the spring n to restore the bell crank lever q to the position shown in the drawings, and brin the pawl'n, withy in the operative range o the lever o, vthus positioning these parts so as to start the re- Winding thereof with the continued rotationl of the engine shaft. As the pull mi is ad vanced to release the pawl l, the latch memlber Z3 drops behind said pawl and holds it in its released or tripped position until the stored energy inthe springs is exhausted, the continued rotationof the star wheel s,

ios

however, bringing the tappet s2 into engager a t e ment with said tch member Z8 when driving member d has been rotated a predetermined number of revolutions, disengaging said latch from said pawl and permitting said pawl to set and lock under its sprmg Z. 4

It will be observed 4that aside from the whir incidental to. the unwinding oruncoill are the parts employed few in number, but they are so assembled as to-make 1t impos- ,brake or strip any of the parts. Not only1` sible for them to get out of order, and any wear upon the various locking devices would be incidentally compensated for by variance in the vangle of the tilt thereof under the spring controlling the pawl.

It is not my intention to limit the invene.4 tion to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is-:-`

1. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a spring actuated driving member, a driven member, an auto- .matically actuated clutch operating solely by friction carried by one of said members and engaging `the other when said driving `member is operative, said4 clutch being inoperative when said driving member is locked, whereby said driven member will be rot-ated with said driving member andI may rotate independently thereof, means norf mally locking said driving member, means whereby said locking means may be released,

and a re-wi-nding mechanism operative from said driven member.

2. A starter for internal combustion eno-- gines embodying therein a spring actuated driving member, a driven-member, an auto-v matically actuated clutch operating solely by friction carried by one of said members and engaging the other when said driving member'is operative, said clutch being inoperative when said driving member is locked, whereby said driven `member will be rotated with said drivingmember and may rotate vindependently thereof,-.means normally locking said driving member, means -wh'ereby said locking means may be released,

a re-Winding mechanism operative from said drivendmembenand automatically operating means for making said rewinding mechanism inoperative been rewound. t

3. A starter V.for internal combustion engines embodying therein a spring actuated driving member, a driven member, anautomatically actuated clutch operating solely by'friction vcarried by one of said members and engaging the other when said driving when the spring has member is operative,.said clutch being inop' erative when said driving member is locked,

whereby said driven member will be rotated,

with said driving membetand may rotate independently thereof, means normally locking said driving membenmeansfwhereby said lockingmeans may be released, a re- Winding mechanism operative from said driven member, automatically operating means for making said rewinding mechanis-1n inoperative when the spring ,has been rewound, andmeans whereby -thebpemtve ,driven member, automatically -restoration to its locked mally locking said driving member, meansl whereby said locking means may be released, -a rewinding mechanism operative from said driven member, automatically operating means for making said rewinding mechay nism inoperative when the spring has been rewound, means actuated by said driving member whereby said last-mentioned means `may 'be made inoperative to start the re- Winding' operation and means actuated by said rewinding mechanism whereby ,saidy last mentioned Vm'eanswill be restored to normal to limit the Winding operation;

5. A starter for vinternal combustion engines embodying therein a spring actuated driving member, a driven member, a friction clutch carried by one. ofsaid members and 'engaging the other when saiddrivi'ng mem .bei is inoperative, said clutch being moperative when said driving member is locked, whereby said driven member will be rotated independently thereof,` means normally locking vsaid driving member, means whereby -said locking means may be released, a re- .with said driving niemberand may rotate l Winding mechanism operative from said operating means forA making said rewinding. mecha-` nisln inoperative when thespring has been rewound,` means actuated by said driving memberwliereby said last mentioned means may. be made inoperative to start the rewinding operation, means actuated by saidr rewinding mechanism whereby said last mentioned-means will be restored. to normal to limit the Winding operation, means tem-- porarily holding said locking means in the released position and means automaticallyy releasing said locking means to permit its spring energy is exhaust G. starter tor internal combustion engmes embodying therein a spring drum having a circumferential brake rim thereon, a'

spring' actuated driving member mounted within said drum, a friction clutch engaging said rim and holding it against movement in one direction, while permitting its movement in the other direction, a driven member, a fictiofn clutch carried by one of said *members and engaging the other when said position when the the other direc-tion, a spring actuated driv-.

ing member mounted within said drum comprising ,an arbor having thereon a plurality of -concentric circular brake rims, a friction clutch acting upon the 'outer of said rims, to normally hold said driving member kagainst rotation under its spring, a driven member, a friction clutclicarried by and rotti-table with, said driven member and adapted to engage said driving member,

when said driving member is rotated in onev direction and to be disengaged therefrom ivhen said driven member revolves at a speed greater than the speed of said driving inember, means whereby said locking clutch may be disengaged from said rim and a reivindiiig mechanism operative from said drivenl member and ating upon said spring drum.

8. A starterfor internal combustion engines embodying therein a spring drum baving a circumferential Abrake rim thereon, a spring actuated drivingV member mounted within said drum, a friction clutch engaging said rim and holding it against movement in one direction, While permitting its movement in. the other direct-ion, a driven member, a friction clutch carried by one of said members and engaging the other when said driving member is operative, said clutchA beingmoperative when said driving member is locked, whereby said driven member will rotate with said driving member and may rotate independently thereof, mei-ins normally locking said driving `member,

, means whereby said locking means may be released and a rewinding mechanism operating upon said brake rim, comprising a 'friction clutch member mounted upon said rim,

Ameans normally setting saidA clutch member upon said rim and means intermittently reciprocating said friction clutch member when said clutch is set.

9. A starter for internal combustion engiries embodying therein a spring drum .having a circumferential brake rim thereon, a spring actuated driving member mounted within said drum, a friction clutch engaging said rim and holding it against movement in one direction .while .permitting its movenient in the othei` direi'xtion', it' driven member, n friction clutch members and engaging the other Whenvsaid carried by one of said is locked, whereby said driven member will4 rotate ivithsaid driving member and may `rotate independently thereof, means normally locking'said driving member, means whereby said locking means may be released, and a reivinding mechanism operating upon said brake rim, comprising a friction clutch member loosely mounted upon said rim, means normally setting said clutch member upon said rim, an eccentric carried by said driven member, a lever oscillated thereby and adapted to intermittently feed said last mentioned friction clutch member forwardly duri'iig a portion of each revolution of said driven member, means adapted to be interposed iii-.tlie path of said friction clutch member toprevent the return movement thereof and make said lever inoperative, means actuated through thc rotation of said drum for setting said last named means and means carried by said driving member for releasing said-feeding friction clutch upon the actuation of vsaid driving member.

10. A starter for internal combustion en ginesv embodying therein a spring drum, means holding said drum against rotation in one direction and permitting its rotation in' the other direction, a sprin0r actuated driving member mounted Within.- said drum, comprising an arbor having thereon a plurality of concentric circular brake rims, a friction clutch actin upon the outer of said rims to normally hold said driving member against rotation under' its spring, a driven member, a friction clutch pivotally connected at the bottom thereof With said driven member, a spring attached to said driven member and acting upon said last named friction clutch to set it upon the rim of said driving member whereby said driven member will be rot-ated iii one direction by said driving member and Will be automatically disengaged therefrom -Wlien said driven member revolves at a speed greater than the speed of said driving member, means. whereby said locking clutch may be disengaged from said rim and a rewinding mechanism operative from said driven meinber and acting upon said spring drum.

11.. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein a spring drum, means holding said drum against rotation lin onedi-rection and permitting its rotation iirltlie other direction, a spring actuated driving member mounted Within said drum, comprising anarbor having thereon a plurality of concentric circular brake rims, a friction clutch acting upon the outer of said rims to normally hold said driving member against rotation under its spring, comprising a member having a, recess therein strad- ,dling said rim, an abutment againstwliicli said member is adapted tobe forced by said iso , member' land' will gaged therefrom when said driven member revolves at a speed greatertlian the speed said locking clutch may be gines embodying therein a spring means whereby disengaged from said rimand a rewinding mechanism operiative from said driven member and acting upon said-spring drum.`

12. A starter forinternal combustion vendrum, means holding said drum against rotation in one direction and permitting its rotation in the other direction, a spring actuated drivingY memberrmounted lwithin .said drum, comprising an arbor having thereon a pluot' said driving member,

rality ofconcentric circular brake rims, a`

friction clutch acting upon the outerloi said rims to normally hold said driving member against rotation under its spring, comprising a member having a recess therein stradidling said rim, an abutment against which said member is adapted to be forced by said rim, and a spring normally tilting said member, a spring attached member to set it upon said rim, a. driven member, a friction clutch pivotally connected at` the bottom thereof with said driven to said driven member and acting upoii said last named .friction clutch to set it upon the rim of said 'driving member whereby said driven member will berotated in one direction-by said driving member Vand will be automatically.

c'liseiigagedl therefrom when ,said ldriven member revolves at aspeed greater than the speed ofsaid driving member, means whereby said .locking lclutch may be disengaged from said rim, a trip latch adapted to automatically hold said locking member in the released position when said last named means are actuated, means actuated by said driving mechanism for automatically releasing said latch member when the spring is ding mechanism operative from said driven member and `acting upon said spring drum.

a' s ring actua ed 13. A starter for ininal combustion engines embodyingV therein a spring drum having a circum erential brake rim thereon, driving member mounted wit in said drum, a friction clutch engaging said rim and holding it against movement in one direct-ion while permitting its movement in the .other direction, a driven member, a friction clutch carried by one of said members and engaging the other when said driving member is operative, said clutch tilting said mem-- a driven meinbery driving member respectively,

other arm of `said .iii one direction and permitting being inoperative when said. driving member is locked, whereby said driven member will rotate with said 'driving member and may rotate independently thereof, means normally locking said driving member, means whereby said locking means' may released, and a rewinding mechanism operating upon said brake rim,v comprising a friction vclutch member loosely mounted upon said rim, means normally setting said clutch member upon its rim, an eccentric carried by said driven member, a lever oscillated thereby and adapted -to intermittently feed said `last mentioned friction clutch member forwardly during a portion' of each `revolution of said driven member, an oscillating -bell crank leverone arm ot-whicli is. adapted to be interposed in the path of said friction clutch member to pre-vent the return movement thereof and make said lever inoperative, a star wheel mounted between' said brake rim and said driven member, means carried by said brake rim and said for alternately turning said vstar wheel in opposite direction's, and a tappet carried by and rotatable with, saidstar wheel, adapted to engage the bell'crank lever when said star wheel is rotated bysaid driving member, and to disengage said arm whensaid star wheel is rotated by said brake rim.

14. A starter for internal combustion engines. embodying .therein a .spring drum, means holding said drinn against rotation. its rotation in the other direction,` a spring'actuated drivin comprising an arbor having thereon a plu-. rality of concentricl circular brake rims, a friction clutch acting upon the outer of said rims to normally hold said driving member' againstl rotation under its spring, comprisin a member having a recess therein straddling said rim, an abutment against which said member is adapted to be forced by said rim, and a spring normally tilting said memberv to set it upon said rim, a driven member, a friction clutch .pivotall connected at the bottom thereof wit driven member, a sprin attached to said driven member and acting upon said last named friction of said driving member whereby said' driven member will be rotated in one direction by said driving member and willbc automatically disengaged therefrom ivhen said driven member revolves at a speed greater than the speed of said driving member, means Whereby said locking cluocli may bev disen a,e ed from said rim and a rewindingv mechanism operating upon said brake rim, comprising a friction clutch member loosely mounted upon said rim, means normally setting said -clutch member upon its rim, an eccentric member mounted wit-hin said drum, i

said

clutch to set it upon the rim,v

carried by said driven member, a lever oscil- 13;,

lated thereby and adapted 'to intermittently feed said last mentioned friction clutch member forwardly during a portion of each revolution of said driven member, an oscilf lating bell crank lever one arm of which is adapted to be interposed in the path of said friction clutch member to prevent the return movement thereof and make said lever inoperative, a star wheel mounted between said brake rim and said driven member, means carried by said brake rim and said driving member respectively, for alternately turning said star wheel in opposite direc tions,and a tappet carried by and `rotatable with, said star wheel, adapted to engage the other arm of said bell crank lever when said star wheel is rotated by said driving member, and to disengage said arm Awhen said `star Wheel is rotated by said brake` rim.

15. A starter for internal combnstionengines embodying therein a spring actuated driving member, a driven member, an automatically actuated clutch'member operating solely by friction carried by one of said members and engaging-the other when said y driving member is operative, said clutch'being inoperative when said driving member is locked, whereby said driven member will be rotated with said driving member and -may rotate independently thereof, means normally locking said driving member,A

means whereby constantly holding said l driving member against a return movement,

a hand crank rotatably mounted adjacent vto and adapted to be temporarily coupled to said driven member whereby the engine may driving member, and a rewinding mechanism operative from said driven member. 16. In a. starter for internal combustion H,be manually started independently of said i engines, a friction clutch mechanism comal prlsing a circular brake rim and a clutch member adapted to engage same, co1npris.

ing a block having a recess therein straddling said rim, a relatively fixed abutment, and ay spring acting on said block to tilt it so as to cause the diagonally opposite corners of said recess to engage said rim, sai-d tilting action being about said abutment.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses, this 9th day of June, 1910.

yBERNHARD VOLKMAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cent-s each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, 

